Structured Elective in Chinese LanguageChina, with a population of 1.4 billion people and a GDP of over €12 trillion as of 2018, is the world’s most populous country and is set to become the largest world economy. In 2019, bilateral trade between Ireland and China reached €17 billion in goods and services. China has been Ireland's largest trading partner in Asia since 2006 and is currently Ireland’s fifth biggest market for agri-food exports.What is this Structured Elective about?The Structured Elective in Chinese Language offers a list of modules aimed at students who have no previous knowledge of the Chinese language and aims to develop basic Chinese communication skills. Once a student has successfully completed the Structured Elective in Chinese Language during their degree (15 credits), their official transcript will state that, in addition to their degree, they have also been awarded a “Structured Elective in Chinese Language.”Why should I take this Structured Elective?The Structured Elective in Chinese Language is designed as an introductory course to Chinese language. It aims to develop beginner learners’ communication skills whereby they can communicate in Chinese in a simple and direct manner. These modules aim to develop language skills in all four areas of reading, writing, speaking and listening. The class structure comprises interactive and communicative activities that allow students to develop all skills in the most efficient way.How will this Structured Elective sequence benefit me?On successful completion of Structured Elective in Chinese Language, students will be able to:1) Understand phrases, sentences or short conversations on topics such as daily routines and campus life when speech is clearly audible.2) Communicate in routine tasks requiring a simple and direct exchange of information on topics such as those previously listed.3) Understand and fluently use everyday expressions and phrases in predictable situations.4) Achieve CEFR level A2, which is similar to HSK level 2.How do I take the modules in this Structured Elective & what are they?

· In order to earn this Structured Elective, the specified modules must be taken in or after 2019/20.

· Students can choose one of the following three routes to obtain their Structured Elective. All three modules listed in the chosen route must be taken progressively during a given degree course. It is recommended that students complete the three modules in three consecutive semesters.

1. Students will NOT register for this Structured Elective in advance. It will be awarded post hoc based on the Electives they have chosen during their undergraduate degree.2. No guarantee will be given to students that it will be possible to take 15 credits from the set. This will depend on module places being available and on the exigencies of the timetable.3. Pre-requisites apply to some modules.